Where a mosaic has one set of DNA from two parent cells, a chimera has two sets of DNA from four parent cells!Īlthough people tend to think of well known cats with split faces, many of those cats are in fact mosaics. Some cells will have one genotype, and others will have a different one. That means the cat will have two sets of genetics. Basically, two fraternal twins join to create one cat. In chimeras, you may also see a line down the middle of a cat’s face or body, and it looks like two different cats formed one.Ī chimera is the result of two fertilized eggs or two embryos joining to create one organism. It’s just the way the cells were activated during development. This cat is a mosaic.Ĭalicos come from the same genetics (one X chromosome with orange and one with black), however they also carry the white spotting gene which gives them random patches of white.īecause the patterns are completely random, sometimes, a cat can appear to have a face that’s half orange and half white, and it looks like it’s split down the middle. This happens because in some cells, the orange fur is active, and in others, the black fur is active. So, for example, if a cat inherits an X with black fur from one parent and an X with orange fur from the other parent, the kitten will be a mosaic of orange and black fur aka a tortoiseshell. Female cats carry two X chromosomes (one from each parent), however, during embryonic development, one X chromosome is activated in each cell at random, causing the other to be deactivated. The gene that causes orange or black fur is carried on the X chromosome. And the best way to explain how this presents itself is through reviewing the genetics of tortoiseshell cats. While that’s not exactly what we’re talking about, it isn’t too far off.Ī mosaic has one set of DNA from two parent cells.
#Chimera cats full
When you think of a mosaic, you probably have images of the art form, with pieces of different colored glass creating a full image. Let’s take a quick walk into the world of feline genetics which doesn’t disappoint and is just as fascinating as the cats themselves. Have you ever seen a cat that looks like its face was split down the middle? Like half of its face looks one way, and the other half looks like a different cat? Sometimes this is called mosaic and others it’s a chimera.Ī what and a what?! I know, I know, but don’t worry, I’ll break it down so it’s easier to understand.
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